3 Sunderland players who need to impress tonight as Jack Ross plots changes

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Sunderland manager Jack Ross has confirmed that he is likely to make several changes to his team tonight. Speaking to The Chronicle, Ross revealed that he will be using his squad players to ensure he has options next Saturday.

The Black Cats travel to Accrington Stanley tonight for the EFL Cup clash at the Wham Stadium. But the big game is coming up at the weekend as Sunderland host promotion rivals Portsmouth at The Stadium of Light.

After drawing their first two games of the season, Sunderland need some inspiration. Here are three players who can use tonight’s game to show Ross they deserve to start against Pompey.

Elliot Embleton

Embleton started the opening game of the season for Sunderland but was dropped for the second match. With Grant Leadbitter not fully fit yet, Embleton can show why he should be a fixture in central midfield.

The 20-year-old is a talented player and this could be his breakthrough season with Sunderland. After impressing on loan at Grimsby Town last season, Embleton now needs to prove his worth to Ross.

Max Power

Power missed the opening match of the season and was an unused substitute against Ipswich Town. When fully fit, the combative midfielder provides some much-needed steel, tenacity and authority in the middle of the park.

The 26-year-old is just returning from a long-term injury which kept him out of most of pre-season. Tonight should be a test of his fitness; if he is ready, he needs to be in the team to face Pompey.

Will Grigg

Like Embleton, Grigg started against Oxford United but was dropped for the second game. Marc McNulty started ahead of Grigg and Charlie Wyke is now on course for a return from injury.

This means the Northern Ireland international must seize his chance against Accrington. Things have not worked out for Grigg yet but he has proven his goalscoring prowess at this level before; he just needs his confidence back.